A stock An-225 has demonstrated carrying a 7.75m wide 58m long Energyia 2nd stage. It weighted some 78tn, but the Anatov could carry 150tn easily. But how much does it costs? Wikipedia says that one transport was Euro 266k in 2008. So let's say that it costs 500k. If we talk about a Falcon X class, the launch cost should be around 150M, so a flight to Stennis for acceptance (or other test stand), plus another flight to KSC that's a 0.7% of the launch cost in transport. But they would keep the old factory, so no relocation cost. And less overhead. I guess airlift is not a bad option for a low rate of flight. It might also happen, that the cost of that flight was less because the An-225 is based of Ukraine, so the first airlift was less. But if it has to come to the US, it might cost more like 1M, in which case putting a new factory close to a port might not be a bad idea, since tooling has to be new, anyways.

A stock An-225 has demonstrated carrying a 7.75m wide 58m long Energyia 2nd stage. It weighted some 78tn, but the Anatov could carry 150tn easily. But how much does it costs? Wikipedia says that one transport was Euro 266k in 2008. So let's say that it costs 500k. If we talk about a Falcon X class, the launch cost should be around 150M, so a flight to Stennis for acceptance (or other test stand), plus another flight to KSC that's a 0.7% of the launch cost in transport. But they would keep the old factory, so no relocation cost. And less overhead. I guess airlift is not a bad option for a low rate of flight. It might also happen, that the cost of that flight was less because the An-225 is based of Ukraine, so the first airlift was less. But if it has to come to the US, it might cost more like 1M, in which case putting a new factory close to a port might not be a bad idea, since tooling has to be new, anyways.

Yeah, but where would you take it off from? The runway at the facility is nowhere near long enough. So you'd have to transport over-land anyway.

Then again, if they do build in Texas they could barge big stages to the Cape.

If SpaceX builds in South Texas, figure they would do both a new launchpad and a new production facility. So it would only take a short road trip through non-populated area to a pad from production facility (probably near Corpus Christi).

Yeah, but where would you take it off from? The runway at the facility is nowhere near long enough. So you'd have to transport over-land anyway.

That's the reason I was sugjesting the A300-600ST Beluga it can use standard runways, and the stages of a rocket sans engines are not that much heavier than aircraft frames.

It still needs up to 3,000 feet of runway they don't have.

How heavy would this be? Could you use an airship to transport from Hawthorne to a port location? Perhaps ridiculous using the oldest flying technology to transport the most modern, but could you lift and control a short duration flight to deploy a 25 ft wide rocket? If nothing else, it would look awesome.

I know your comment was only half serious, but I can see tank, dome and fairing fabrication over 4m moving to FL or TX. But I'm guessing Hawthorne would continue to do Dragon, Merlins, Dracos, etc. Too much talent at Hawthorne to lose half of them with a factory move.

I know your comment was only half serious, but I can see tank, dome and fairing fabrication over 4m moving to FL or TX. But I'm guessing Hawthorne would continue to do Dragon, Merlins, Dracos, etc. Too much talent at Hawthorne to lose half of them with a factory move.

Not an issue. Other vehicles have moved. Shuttle from Huntington Beach to Houston. Delta II to Decatur. Atlas from San Diego to Denver to Decatur.

I'd like to expand on my previous post, since upon further research this seems really possible.

The Mi-26 is available for rent in the US and the pricing is reasonable. It seems it's lift capacity is in the range of what is needed.It probably at least can transport the stage from factory to barge.

I'd like to expand on my previous post, since upon further research this seems really possible.

The Mi-26 is available for rent in the US and the pricing is reasonable. It seems it's lift capacity is in the range of what is needed.It probably at least can transport the stage from factory to barge.

This pic below really convinced me.

No. A 6 m stage would weigh a lot more than 20 tons. I think SpaceX would need more than one Jess Heavy Lifter. Falcon 9 has a first stage fueled to dry weight ratio of just over 20. Scale that up to get a rough idea. Jess Heavy Lifter is apparently waiting on an installment of $100 million. Given the times, unless Elon is willing to invest with Pete Jess and their partner Boeing, the scenario is unlikely. Maybe after Tesla begins to pay out dividends neutral bouyancy airships will be examined. Unless the timing of JHL availability coincides with the need (which is possible) it's more likely that they'll do it somewhere with easy access to a coast.

The most sensible place to build Big stages would be next to the launch pad ie Build at the cape. Theres plenty of room, a good work force and minimal transport problems. The engines, avionics etc could be shipped in from hawthorne.

The most sensible place to build Big stages would be next to the launch pad ie Build at the cape. Theres plenty of room, a good work force and minimal transport problems. The engines, avionics etc could be shipped in from hawthorne.

No, it is a bad place for it. There are frequent shutdowns due to launches and other hazardous ops

I'd like to expand on my previous post, since upon further research this seems really possible.

The Mi-26 is available for rent in the US and the pricing is reasonable. It seems it's lift capacity is in the range of what is needed.It probably at least can transport the stage from factory to barge.

This pic below really convinced me.

No. A 6 m stage would weigh a lot more than 20 tons. I think SpaceX would need more than one Jess Heavy Lifter. Falcon 9 has a first stage fueled to dry weight ratio of just over 20. Scale that up to get a rough idea. Jess Heavy Lifter is apparently waiting on an installment of $100 million. Given the times, unless Elon is willing to invest with Pete Jess and their partner Boeing, the scenario is unlikely. Maybe after Tesla begins to pay out dividends neutral bouyancy airships will be examined. Unless the timing of JHL availability coincides with the need (which is possible) it's more likely that they'll do it somewhere with easy access to a coast.